Return bend fitting for oil stills



June 25, 1935. c. E. ARD

RETURN BEND FITTING FOR OIL STILLS Original Filed Jan, 25, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR Jun'e 25, 1935. c. E. ARD 2,005,768

RETURN BEND FITTING FOR OIL STILLS Original Filed Jan. 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. I

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INVENTOR June 25, 1935. c. E. ARD 2,005,768

' RETURN BEND FITTING FOR OIL STILLS Original Filed Jan. 25, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmense 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETURN BEND FITTING FOR OIL STILLS Charles E. Ard, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Fred C. Fantz,.Webster Groves, Mo.

Application January 25, 1933, Serial No. 653,395 Renewed December 7, 1934 2 Claims.

mountably mounted in the housing, but which can be light in weight, which will be easy to machine, and which wi l facilitate the removal of the sectional rings or bushings mounted intermediate the tubes and the annular portions which encircle the ends of the tubes, which will eliminate the separate toggles and set screws and yet make it possible to gain quick and convenient access to the interior of the tubes for the purpose of removing accumulations of coke,

which is essential for the safe operation of cracking stills.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings which are hereunto annexed and made a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fitting in its assembled position, part of it being broken away showing some of the parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1, the housing section and tube on the left side being omitted;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views of one of the 3 housing sections;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the bottom plate;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a modified form of plate;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation ofthe same; Y

Fig. 10 is a section on the line ili0 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 shows the modified form' of housing to be employed in connection with the plate shown in Fig. 8; and 4 Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the same. I

- Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire description.

As shown in the drawings I have providedva conventional return bend which is-suitably con-' nected to a pair of adjacent still tubes 2 and I. a

of which are adapted to engage abutments i3 formed on the external surface of the return bend l.

The lower part of the housing comprises a plate ii which consists of two annular portions 5 l5 adapted to encircle the ends of the still tubes 2 and ion which are provided inwardly extending shoulders it which engage the upset shoulders formed on the still tubes through the medi m of sectional metal rings it which are inserted intermediate the shoulders on the annular portions and the external surface of the still tubes.

The annular members I! are provided with bayonet slots ll which are adapted to receive the inwardly extending lugs l and 9 on the side walls 6 and I.

The device is assembled as follows:

The ends of the tubes 2 and 3 are passed through the plate It and the sectional rings II are inserted in position. The plate i4 is then drawn up until the shoulders i 6 engage the shoulders on the still tubes. The lugs l and 9 are then inserted in the slot i1 and the yoke is given a partial turn until the lugs 8 and 9 are brought in contact with the stop l9 at the end of the bayonet slots I! when by tightening the set screws I! it is apparent that the face of thereturn bend will be forced tightly against the ends of the tubes, forming a leak-proof joint.

In some cases it may be found desirable to construct the device with the modified form of construction shownin Figs. 8 to 12 in which the lugs I and 8 are provided with an inclined surface as at 20. The upper wall of the bayonet slots I I being correspondingly inclined with the result that any tendency on the part of the side walls 6 and I to spread when the set screw is tightened is entirely overcome. It may, in some cases, be desirable to provide means to prevent the bottom plate from dropping down on the tubes when the U or return bend is removed for this purpose. I have shown in Fig. 1 a set screw mounted in one of the annular portions i5 of the bottom plate. Although I show a specific type of fastening device for this purpose, obviously any desired means for holding the bottom plate in place may be employed.

It will be apparent .to persons skilled in the art that a fitting of this construction is peculiarly adaptable for low pressure service, as it is inexpensive to manufacture and is comparatively light, and yet will furnish a satisfactory fitting for such service.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of still tubes to provide a passageway therethrough, the ends of said tubes being upset to form external shoulders, a housing therefor, comprising a pair of'inverted U shaped members, the side walls of which terminate in inwardly extending lugs, the upper surface of which inclines upwardly and inwardly set screws which abut said return bend mounted in the upper part of said inverted U, a plate having annular portions adapted to encircle the ends of said tubes, internal shoulders formed in said annular portions, sectional metal bushings adapted to be mounted intermediate said annular portions and said tubes to abut said shoulders, there being bayonet slots in said annular portions adapted to receive said inwardly extending lugs, the upper walls of said slots being fitted to and coinciding with the said inwardly extending lugs, means to prevent the rotation of said Us in said slots beyond a predetermined point.

2. In a refinery apparatus, a conventional return bend adapted to connect a pair of still tubes to provide a passage way therethrough, the ends of said tubes being upset to form external shoulders, a housing therefor, comprising a pair of inverted U shaped members, the side walls of which terminate in inwardly extending lugs, set screws which abut said return bend mounted in the upper part of said inverted U, a: plate having annular portions adapted to encircle the ends of said tubes, internal shoulders formed in said annular portions, sectional metal bushings adapted to be mounted intermediate said annular portions and said-tubes to abut said shoulders, there being bayonet slots in said annular portions adapted to receive said inwardly extending lugs. means to prevent the rotation of said Us in said slots beyond a predetermined point, and means on said lugs to prevent the walls of the U spreading when the set screws are tightened.

CHARLES E. ARD. 

